[Gemini III] THE SPACE TWINS: Gus Grissom and John Young Preparing for America's First Two-Man S...

[Gemini III] THE SPACE TWINS: Gus Grissom and John Young Preparing for America's First Two-Man Space Mission (diptych) NASA, 1964-1965 Printed 1965. Two vintage gelatin silver prints on fibre-based paper [NASA images 65-H-445 and S-65-24736]. The first with NASA caption numbered '65-H-446' on the reverse, the second numbered 'NASA S-65-24736' in black in the top margin (issued by NASA Manned Spacecraft Centre, Houston, Texas and NASA Headquarters, Washington, D.C.). Each: 20.3 x 25.4 cm. (8 x 10 in.) Historical context These magnificent portraits showcase John Young and Gus Grissom during preparations for Gemini III, the first U.S. two-man space mission, which launched on March 23, 1965. Project Gemini, NASA's second human spaceflight program, acted as a critical bridge between the Mercury and Apollo programs, testing the skills and technologies essential for lunar exploration. Footnotes: Gemini III, piloted by Virgil 'Gus' Grissom and John Young, was the program's first crewed mission. Over 4 hours and 52 minutes, the spacecraft orbited Earth three times, successfully demonstrating orbital manoeuvres using onboard thrusters. Key objectives of the mission included evaluating the two-man spacecraft design, the worldwide tracking network, the Orbit Attitude and Manoeuvring System (OAMS), and the control of re-entry and landing systems. Although the spacecraft landed 111 kilometres off target, the mission validated Gemini's systems, laying the groundwork for future missions involving rendezvous and docking. For further information on this lot please visit Bonhams.com For further information about this lot please visit the lot listing